Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings

Full Title:
Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act

Summary#

This bill would change parts of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to increase oversight of federal real property decisions. It requires the Director (OMB) and the Administrator (GSA) to give the Comptroller General all data and reports produced under the cited section. It requires the Director to list, within one year, all federal agencies that have independent leasing authority to procure office space and to ensure those agencies are notified and comply with the section's requirements. The bill lets the Administrator retain a Federal building as temporary "swing space" to support the sale or major renovation of other Federal buildings if the retention cost does not exceed any savings from the sale or renovation and annual plans are submitted to two Congressional committees. It also extends the Public Buildings Reform Board provisions through December 31, 2028 and requires OMB and GSA to provide utilization data and reports to that Board.

What it means for you#

  • Federal agencies with independent leasing authority must be identified and must provide required data and reports.
  • The Comptroller General (GAO) will receive broader access to data and reports about federal building use and leasing.
  • The GSA Administrator may keep a building temporarily as swing space to help sell or renovate other buildings, but only when retention costs do not exceed related savings and annual usage plans are submitted to Congress.
  • The Public Buildings Reform Board will receive utilization data collected under the amended law.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on overall costs or savings. The bill does state that any retained swing space may only be kept so long as the cost of retention does not exceed savings realized by the sale or major renovation of other Federal buildings, and that annual plans must be submitted to specified Congressional committees.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.